Inside TRIUMF: Canada’s Science Powerhouse
Explore TRIUMF at UBC—Canada’s particle accelerator powering cancer research, global science collaboration, and public science tours in Vancouver.
TRIUMF UBC
By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | April 16, 2025
Tucked away on the south campus of the University of British Columbia is TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle accelerator centre. At first glance, it may seem like any other lab facility. But step inside, and you’ll discover a world of advanced science, global collaboration, and cutting-edge medical innovation.
Powered by its complement of top talent and advanced accelerator infrastructure, TRIUMF is pushing the frontiers in isotope science and innovation, as well as technologies to address fundamental and applied problems in particle and nuclear physics, and the materials and life sciences. From the hunt for the smallest particles in our universe to research that advances the next generation of batteries or develops isotopes to diagnose and treat disease, TRIUMF drives more than scientific discovery.
Nestled on the University of British Columbia’s south campus, TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle accelerator centre, houses a massive 520 MeV cyclotron buried underground with extensive concrete shielding, roughly equivalent to three storeys deep. This powerful accelerator produces radioactive isotopes, such as fluorine-18 and actinium-225, vital for cancer diagnostics through PET imaging and emerging targeted therapies at UBC Hospital and BC Cancer.
In a cutting-edge process, these short-lived isotopes are transported via a 2.5-kilometer underground pneumatic tube system, known as the "rabbit line," which delivers them to UBC Hospital’s radiology department in approximately 125 seconds. This rapid delivery enables doctors to perform critical PET scans for cancer and neurological conditions with near-real-time precision, revolutionizing diagnostic capabilities and advancing medical research.
In an exciting leap for science, Canada’s TRIUMF laboratory is teaming up with CERN to upgrade the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s most powerful particle accelerator. TRIUMF is building special cryomodules to house “crab cavities,” which will boost the LHC’s luminosity—essentially making particle collisions happen more often.
This upgrade, part of the High-Luminosity LHC project, means scientists can collect more data in less time, helping them uncover new secrets about the universe, like the nature of dark matter or hidden particles. It’s like giving a telescope a sharper lens to see deeper into the cosmos, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries.
Visitors lucky enough to take a public tour—a hidden gem in Vancouver—can learn how TRIUMF uses physics to help fight cancer and improve lives. In one fascinating room, magnetic fields are so powerful that a simple paper clip stands upright, balancing on its end. There’s also a peek into how proton beams are used to treat eye cancers with incredible precision.
TRIUMF isn't just Canadian—it’s globally connected. It maintains a strong partnership with CERN in Switzerland and regularly hosts visiting scientists from Europe, Asia, and beyond. The exchange of knowledge helps drive both research and innovation, placing Canada at the forefront of nuclear medicine and physics.
Particle accelerators are essential instruments for subatomic physics, material science, life sciences, chemistry, and a broad field of applied engineering applications. Accelerator science, as a discipline of applied physics, focuses on the research and development of these powerful tools for discovery, which number approximately 30,000 particle accelerators in operation around the world serving medicine, industry, energy, the environment, national security, and discovery science.
Whether you’re a science buff or simply curious about how physics powers healthcare, TRIUMF is a shining example of how international collaboration, research, and innovation can change lives. Public tours are available year-round, offering a fascinating glimpse into the future of science.
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